Hey Guys,

Just a question. I remember hearing while back that Ertl is getting out of the Diecast Biz. True?

Jay

Ertl as a separate company hasn't existed since RC2 bought them some years ago.
Ertl is a Brand name now under RC2 - Learning Curve or whatever they are calling themselves now. I believe that Johnny Lightning is the umbrella that the once-ERTL American Muscle line will now fall under.

Eeep,

I have always had issues with Ertl stuff - Fit n finish/proportion. Then I had issues with Johhny Lightning's really tacky 1:18. Now I won't have either of these issues because I guess I'm a Highway 61/GMP now. I want realistic cars not cartoons.
Thanks for the info.

Jay

Learning Curve, the parent of Ertl and AMT, is moving in a different direction and want's to sell of the Ertl and AMT lines, but keep JL .

Ertl as in American Muscle might be going by the wayside, but Ertl as in the Farm stuff....that will never go!!

Eeep,

I have always had issues with Ertl stuff - Fit n finish/proportion. Then I had issues with Johhny Lightning's really tacky 1:18. Now I won't have either of these issues because I guess I'm a Highway 61/GMP now. I want realistic cars not cartoons.
Thanks for the info.

Jay

The Johnny Lightning 1:18 scale cars were Ertls in JL boxes. I never saw them in any store, so maybe that is a good thing. :freak:

Vette,

I bought a JL Chevelle, Silver n black. Overall it wasn't too bad except for the fact that the interior was bleach white and the undercarriage, including floorpan was chrome. Screams kid's toy. Then i bought the 69 Camaro rag. Black n white. Horrible fit and finish, same horrible floorpan, rims that stuck of the tires, same bleached interior, The wheels themselves looked cheap. So that was the end of that. They might be a bargain at their price but I'd rather pay the money and not have to cringe everytime I look at it. Needless to say, both of those models became testbeds for my weathering stuff, but I'd never display or sell them. Then someone told me that they were basically Ertls in a different box with different colors. Ok, no more Ertls with the exception being some of the Authentics line, they're not too bad at all. But when you figure it out, where I live an Authentic runs you 60-75 while a Highway 61 is in the 80-100 range. In my eyes, I'll spend then 10 bucks. It's quickly no suprise why Ertl was losing a good chunk of their market to other companies.

Jay

As Mark stated, ERTL is the brand name that is used to produce John Deere, Farmall, etc. tractors. This i a huge strong line for Learning Curve, and will remain for some time. ERTL via American Muslce on the other hand, as with many other 1/18 scale lines in the market today, are a struggling market, so we may not see much of this soon.


Russ

Isnt Hwy61 owned by the Ertl family?
I havent bought a diecast in a few years but I used to be in their collectors club and the owner was Fred Ertls son if I remember right.

you can notice that now there are 2 trends in the 1/18 scale :
well detailed and unusual models (Highway, GL)
and cheap repro made and sold by chinese company (Welly, etc..)

ERTL is probably too high in price with their regular die cast. I just hope they will continue the precision 100 quality line (Mustang conv, fbk, etc..)

and cheap repro made and sold by chinese company (Welly, etc..)
Dude..you do know that most diecast cars ARE made in China/Asia. Cheap repro?.....

cheap repro means less details and less parts

Ertl as in American Muscle might be going by the wayside, but Ertl as in the Farm stuff....that will never go!!


from the last JL "bolt", 2008 preview:
http://collector.johnnylightning.com/club/bolt/2007-0010/images/jd_package.jpg

YES! :mad:

Isnt Hwy61 owned by the Ertl family?
I havent bought a diecast in a few years but I used to be in their collectors club and the owner was Fred Ertls son if I remember right.

As I recall Hwy61 is produced by Die Cast Productions. I think there was originally some ties but they're their own company now anyways. I might be wrong, anybody know for sure???

Jay

Highways 61 is a stand alone company not associated with ERTL in any way. But the owners are "ERTL's" grandsons. ;-) That is the story, as if you look at a package you will see it says ERTL III. But again there is no affiliation company wise.

Russ

I talked to a rep from ertl and they said , all the old models that were in production are no longer being manufactured, and it was going to be all JL and no 1/18 models will not be produced. Any new models will not be made from ertl, JL will be 1/64,1/24.

Not to offend anyone, but outside of the Authentics series this doesn't really rank as a loss to me. I'll probably buy the new Charger they're releasing in the Authentics and maybe a Mustang but I'm fine with walking away from Ertls for good. When you can buy an equally detailed Welly for half the price of an Ertl it's no suprise they shut er down

Jay

any update concerning ERTL stopping the 1/18?

Thanks

Ertl isn't producing any 1:18 diecast anymore. They sold out of the business and it is now known as RC2. RC2 is responsible for the recent Authentics line and you might be familiar with the 71 Chargers/Super Bees that were released just last month. Apparently they are going to be updating some of Ertl's older molds and adding details and such. They are doing this to the 1969-70 Chargers and are making a new General Lee in AUthentics trim as well. They supposedly will be making an ALL NEW mold this year and will be updating 2 more unnamed molds. If the 71 Chargers are any indication of what they've got coming out, we're in for a treat.

Jay

thanks for the update. I am just on Mustang but I can tell that the RC2 fastback 65 they released last year are really nice.